Clashes continued in some eastern areas on Saturday, with reports of the army shelling the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk and of shooting further south in Mariupol.

'Huge sacrifice'

Mr Poroshenko was inaugurated in the presence of dozens of foreign dignitaries - including US Vice-President Joe Biden - in parliament in the capital Kiev.

The inauguration took place a day after Mr Poroshenko had a brief encounter with the Russian leader
Ukrainian border guards have been involved in fierce fighting with separatists in recent days
The rebels are continuing to hold a number of government buildings in the east

Mr Poroshenko, the owner of the Roshen chocolates group, laid out a programme for ending the crisis that included an offer of early regional elections in the east and a decentralisation of power to the regional administrations.

Petro Poroshenko's inauguration speech was forceful and seemed to hit all the right notes for his supporters. Local commentators and bloggers' reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

Pro-revolution Ukrainians were undoubtedly heartened by his strong position on keeping the country unified, and advocacy for EU membership.

The Kremlin will give its reaction fairly soon: Moscow and Kiev officials are expected to meet on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine's east.

Ukrainians in the east and south may see Mr Poroshenko as a man who will defend their interests. But they may be angered by his calls to join the EU and insistence that Ukrainian remain the sole state language - and feel once again that their voices are not being listened to.

Mr Poroshenko called on separatists in the east to lay down their arms, saying he would guarantee indemnity from criminal charges to all those who did not have blood on their hands.

But he added: "Talking to gangsters and killers is not our path."

The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says part of the speech was in Russian - directed at those in strife-torn Donbass - and offered concessions on Russian language and a corridor for Russian fighters to return home.

But our correspondent says there were also standing ovations for the president's comments on Crimea and on ties with the European Union - which he reiterated he wanted Ukraine to join.

Insurgency leader Valery Bolotov said he did not believe Mr Poroshenko's offer of amnesty

Mr Poroshenko said of Crimea - annexed in March by Russia - "Crimea is, was and always will be Ukrainian soil."

Referring to a brief meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in France on Friday, he said: "I put that clearly to the Russian leader in Normandy."

Mr Poroshenko also said there would be no discussion concerning the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Mr Poroshenko condemned the rule of former President Viktor Yanukovych, seen by many as pro-Russian, who fled in February after a popular uprising in Kiev.

He accused Mr Yanukovych of financing terrorism in the east, saying he was "fully responsible for the situation there today".

Some separatists were unimpressed by Mr Poroshenko's speech, including a spokesman in Donetsk, Fyodor Berezin, who said the president wanted "one-sided disarmament and for us to surrender. That will never happen".

An insurgency leader in Luhansk, Valery Bolotov, said he did not believe Mr Poroshenko's offer of amnesty.

After their meeting on Friday, Mr Putin said he liked Mr Poroshenko's approach but would wait to see what he could deliver.

Mr Putin and US President Barack Obama also held an "informal meeting" lasting about 10-15 minutes, according to the White House.

On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry struck an upbeat note, saying: "I hope that in the next few days we can see some steps taken that will reduce the tensions... I'm confident there are ways forward."

Targeted sanctions were introduced by the EU and US after Russia annexed Crimea, following a controversial referendum on joining Russia.

Since then, a bloody insurgency has gripped Ukraine's eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk.